Draft rigging



July 17, 1934. D. s. BARRows 1,966,915

DRAFT RIGGING Filed Feb. 1s, 1928 2 sheets-snee*b 1V July 17, 1934. D s BARROWS 1,966,916

DRAFT RIGGING Filed Feb. 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WM L? wa attoznu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAFT RIGGIN G Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application February 18, 1928, Serial No. 255,466 8 Claims. (Cl. Z13- 69) This invention relates to draft rigging for railvided with slots in the forward portions of the way rolling stock and more particularly to conarms thereof with a key extending through said necting means between the coupler and yoke slots and corresponding slots in the coupler for thereof whereby a desired amount of angling operatively connecting said yoke and coupler therebetween is permitted. and transmitting draft forces therebetween, a 50 The principal object of my invention, generally shim member being seated on said key and in a stated, is the provision of a key-connected coupocket of the coupler for permitting pivotal mopler and yoke with the key serving to transmit tion between the key and coupler, and another draft forces therebetween and a shim seated on member between the coupler butt and the cush- 10 said key and formed to permit pivotal motion ioning means for transmitting bufling forces 65 between said coupler and key, an auxiliary memtherebetween, said member having bearing faces ber or swivel block being provided between the for permitting pivotal motion between it and butt of the coupler and associated cushioning the coupler, and trunnion means operatively conmechanism for permitting similar pivotal monecting said member and coupler butt without l5 tion therebetween, said swivel block being operinterfering with the pivotal motion between the 70 atively connected to the coupler, preferably by parts. means aiding or not interfering with the pivotal Other objects and advantages of the invention motion thereof. relating to the particular arrangement and con- An object of my invention is to provide a struction of the various parts will become apswiveling or pivotal connection between the couparent as the description proceeds. 75

pler and yoke members in railway draft rigging Referring to the drawings illustrating my inin which a shim seated on a key connecting the vention, the scope whereof is defined by the apcoupler and yoke serves as a pivoting member pended claims: instead of a pin extending entirely through the Figure 1 is a plan view of a coupler and yoke c0up1er, connected in accordance with one embodiment of 80 Another object of my invention is to provide a my invention.

pivotal connection between the coupler and yoke Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View members in railway draft rigging in which a key on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking in the direcserves to transmit draft forces between the coution of the arrows.

pler and yoke and a swivel block is provided Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View on the 85 formed with a forwardly opening pocket in which line 3 3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of is seated the coupler butt, the coupler and block the arrows.

being formed with interengaging faces for trans- Figure 4 is a verticalr longitudinal sectional view mitting buing forces from the coupler to the corresponding to Figure 2 but showing a modificushioning mechanism without detriment to said cation. 90

block, said faces being adapted to permit pivotal Figure 5 is a plan view of a coupler and assomotion between the coupler and block members, elated swivel block corresponding to Figure l but and means being provided between the coupler showing another modification. and swivel block for operatively connecting said Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts members without interfering with said pivotal being designated by like reference characters, and 95 motion. first considering the embodiment of my invention A further object of my invention is to provide illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, I have shown a swivel block connected to the end of the coua coupler 1 connected to a yoke 2 by means of pler and forming in effect a coupler with an ara key 3. Although a horizontal yoke is illustrated, ticulated butt, the rear face of said block being I do not wish to be limited to such showing which 100 adapted to engage cushioning mechanism, and is merely illustrative. The forwardly extending the front face being pocketed and curved for emarms 4 of the yoke 2 are slotted, as indicated at bracing the rear end of the coupler, means ex- 5 and 6, respectively, for the passage of a key 3 tending between the upper and lower portions of therethrough and extend on each side of the said coupler and swivel block for operatively concoupler 1. The coupler is provided with a slot 7 105 necting the same while permitting pivotal motion through which passes the key 3. The rearward therebetween. portion of the slot '7 is enlarged to form a pocket A still further object of my invention is to pro- 8, said pocket being provided with rear faces vide a pivotal connection between a preferably formed as cylindrical bearing portions 9, 10 and 5 horizontal yoke and coupler, said yoke being pro- 11. It will be noted that the slotted portion 7 CTI rif;

closely embraces the key 3 with only normal clearance therebetween whereby said key is properly supported in substantially horizontal position.

A shim 12 shaped to accurately fit into the rear portion of the pocket 8 and formed with correspondingly curved bearing portions 13, 14 and 15 for pivotal engagement with vrespect to the coupier bearing Iportions 9, 10 andI 11,respectiveiy, is provided and seated'in said coupler pocket, vas illustrated most clearly in Figures 2 and. The forward face 16 of the shim 12 when positioned in the coupler pocket is normally vertical and substantially flat except where a bearing-pocket i7 is provided for engagement with the.key.mem ber 3` It will be noted that itl-iszecessarytoirst insert the shim 12 in pl'ac'e'in lthe pocket 8 of the coupler and then the key 3 is passed through the slot 7 therein which serves-.to lock f-theshim in place and prevent loss thereof while the ,parts are assembled.

The rear face or buttgportion 1.8.of the coupler is curved-.co-axially -with respect -.-to ...the g'curved portions 9, and llof -the vpoeket therein. This curvedv outer portion. on the, coupler-fits into 1 and engages with a .separableswivelblock or aux;

iliary member 19 normally disposedbetween the couplernl and thedraft gear orcushicning mechanism 20, illustrated diagrammatioally by dot and dash lines. The member 19 isprovidedwith a co-axially curved bearingrportionm'formed -as a pocket into which the-butt of thevcoupler fits and bears against. Y l

The auxiliary member orvswivl .blocklSJ-isprovided with.forwardly egrtendingarmsm and 23, both arms being provided-with receptacleaapertured or pocketedQasuindicated at 24 and 25', to providebearings for engaging..trunnionsZGeand 27 on the topand bottom,.respectively,{of the coupier 1. These .arms $222and.23'.may..initia1iy,.be aring away 'fromeachothen as'ind'cated by dot and dash lines n:.F1 1le, 2 andzfinalljbent-to ward .each other into Vengaging .relationship `with the top and bottom' faces of tliecoupler where the trunnions 26 and 2,7 engage respectivelyui the apertures'24 andf25 ofsaid'arrns whereby .said coupler and swivekblockA are 'oper',aridi/.ely lvcon nected to .facilitateorat least not 4interfere `with ythe pivotalmotion therebetween about-,the curved bearing faces 1'8 an'dll.l

To facilitate engagement. between the trunniens 2'6 and 27 vandthe arms `22 and. 2,3 .`or-1.,th e swivel block, said trunnions are preferably slightly tapered to .a decreased v(moss-.section outwardly or away 'from the l partson which 'they vare `formed, as illustrated, o'r formed approximately frustreconical and the apertures in'the arms oflthe swivel block correspondingly.formedsaid tapering, however, being onlyv necessary-longitudinally on account of the manier-.of'applicationof.the swivel block. v s

To consider'the theory underlying theconnection between -the'swivel block and-thetop. and bottom 'faces of the coupler by means,oi' trunnions which are `necessarily co.axial .with the bearing faces between thelbutt of the fcuplerand'the engaging curved surface of the swivel block, it should be observed that-the mechanical .performance of a segmental annular `shim depends on its `being forced to Vobserve its theoreticalfcenter. 'If, on the other hand,- therewere njo t-runnion connection between theswivel-blockrand-the coupler butt, uponpivotal motionbetween saidmembers; there would be tendency of A.the parts `to-cant :with respect to eachother,- thereby increasingfthe friction therebetween .andirnpairing the eiciency of the pivotal connection. A wheel rotates smoothly because it has a fixed center of relatively small diameter on which to turn. If the disk of a wheel were held against rotation and the tire were required to rotate on the disk the frictional resistance would be multiplied many times. If, instead of a complete tire we have only a small segment, we then Vhave a shim such as the swivel block illustrated, and in order to improve the mechanical performance of the associated parts vand prevent sticking, the trunnion connection disclosed is provided which, in addition, functions to -maintain an operative relation between the coupler andswivel block and cause said members ,to'travel `forwardlyand rearwardly as a unit.

IReferring now.to vthe embodiment of my invention illustrated n Figure 4, a construction is -f'th'ere disclesedcompriising the coupler la, a yoke .2,..and..a connecting key 3a extending therebetween. 'Said yoke and key may be identical with those-of the firstsembodiment and `the'coupler may be Lnearly identical with :that of the first embodiment, havingra, shim .12a with coaxially curvedA bearing surfaces-engaging.` correspondingly curved surfaces on the-coupler -and a front-face notched to engage the rearedge of fthe key, as in the iirstvv embodiment.- vThe rearv end or butt portion 18a of the coupler is :likewise :coeaxially curved with respectto thecurvedrportions Aon the inner surface thereof and va `cooperative swivel block 19a-is provided aslin'thefrst embodiment. The forwardly extending arms22a and'23a of said swivel block, however, insteadl of being apertured for engaging trunn-ions -onwthecoupler butt, are provided with inwardly :orrespectively downwardly and upwardly extending vtrunnion'porh -tions .'26a and 27a which-after the arrnsz22a and 23a are bent to position as in the .rst embodiment, sea-t themseivesrin .correspondingly-shaped pocketsV 24axand 25a. ThefShaDefOfJSaid trunnion portions an'd corresponding trunnion receiving pockets preferably corresponds with thatof `the rfirst embodiment. Except. 1as1 :specic-ally disclosed, :the present embodiment .preferably :corresponds substantially with that of the rstem.-

bodiment. y

,'.Referring now to theie-mbodiment ofmyinvem tion illustrated gin. Figure 1,5, a .construction is theredisclosed.-which;is preferably. identical with that ofthe r-st embodiment exceptzthat'the connection between Ithe:coupler-.11.b and tiresswivel block 191 involves forwardly 'extending arms 221? on the swivel .blockxwhich,.insteadf of :being apertured as in the "rst embodiment, -.arfe vslotted .to

thefends, =as Vindicated `at Z4b ,.so that said swivel block need not be fap'pliedto. the ceuplerby bend.- ing said arrns'toA position hutlsaidfarms mayfbe arranged in normally parallelrelationand the swivel block 'slippedlinto place-:'ontthe butt of the coupler and then retained thereon byfcotteror other connecting means 28 passing through registering apertures 29inv thebifurcatedends of the arms v22". -On account -of theavoidance of bending the Aarms 22", Y the-trunnions .26b on .the yoke may' becylindrical" rather than `tapered and the notches or slots2tb correspond-inglyfformed. Inasmuch as the only stressvapplied on the retaining. members ;or icottefrs'-28 rs1-that necessary to keep the parts in .assemblywhiie inthe storehouse or'beore appl-ication'to the car, no very great strength is required thereof. :Otherwise the construction of the parts and Yarrange?men't thereof-may be .identical withthat-of the rst embodiment..

It Will'be apparent thatbyivirtuc v.of thier-aforedescribed construction a strong and readily manufactured connection between the coupler and yoke members in railway draft rigging is provided as the interior shim permits pivotal motion between the coupler and the key member in a substantially horizontal plane by virtue of the engaging cylindrical bearing faces on said shim and coupler. A slight amount of Vertical angling may also be permitted due to the clearance between the key and the slotted portions of the coupler and yoke.

When draft forces are applied to the coupler such forces are transmitted first to the shim 12, then to the key 3, and through said key to the forwardly extending arms of the yoke. When buing forces, however, are applied to the coupler the key is relieved of substantially all strains because such bufling forces are transmitted to the swivel block or auxiliary member 19 and from there to the engaging cushioning mechanism, the key moving rearwardly with the coupler in the elongated slots 5 and 6 of the yoke. By reason of the pivotal relation between the coupler butt and swivel block a flat and substantially transverse face is always presented to the cushioning mechanism for the efficient transference of bufng forces thereto.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In railway draft rigging, a coupler formed with a slotted butt, a yoke, a key extending through the slotted portions in the coupler butt and corresponding slots in the yoke for operatively ccnnecting said parts, a shim enclosed in the butt, engaging the rear edge of the key, and pivotally movable with respect to said butt, an external shim embracing the butt of the coupler and separable therefrom, and trunnions for connecting the external shim and butt together for pivotal motion therebetween, formed on the top and bottom of one of said members and received in pockets in the other, said trunnions decreasing in diameter away from the member on which they are formed.

2. In railway draft rigging, a slotted coupler, a slotted yoke, a key passing through said slots for operatively connecting said coupler and yoke, a shim seated in said coupler and both shim and coupler provided with correspondingly curved cooperating bearing faces permitting pivotal motion therebetween, said shim also engaging the key and both provided with corresponding bearing faces, a swivel block embracing the butt of said coupler, and approximately frustro-conical trunnion means received in corresponding pockets and extending between said block and coupler for operatively connecting the members while permitting pivotal motion therebetween, the larger bases of said trunnion means being at the member from which they extend.

3. In railway draft rigging, a slotted coupler having a curved butt portion, a slotted yoke, a key passing through said slots and connecting said coupler and yoke, a swivel block with a bearing pocket curved to correspond with the butt portion of the coupler, bendable arms embracing the butt portion of said coupler, and trunnion means extending between said arms and the adjacent faces on the coupler for operatively connecting the parts while permitting pivotal motion therebetween, said trunnion means being tapered to a decreased diameter away from the parts on which they are formed to facilitate assembly.

4. A coupler provided with a butt portion, an

associated swivel block, the rear wall of said butt portion being curved as a cylindrical bearing for pivotal motion with respect to said swivel block and formed with a pocket therein, the inner face of said pocket being co-axially curved with respect to the rear wall for engagement with a correspondingly curved shim and slotted for receiving a connecting key, the upper and lower faces of said butt and the associated portions of the swivel block being formed with means for connecting said coupler and block while permitting pivotal motion therebetween, said means cornprising trunnions formed on one of said parts, decreasing in size as they extend therefrom, and disposed in corresponding receptacles in the other.

5. A coupler for railway draft rigging comprising a shank and a separable butt end section, said butt end section and shank having complementary curved pressure-transmitting surfaces, said butt end section having upper and lower flanges respectively overlying the top and bottom surfaces of said shank, and trunnions integral with one of said members tapered to a decreased crosssection away from said member, and received in corresponding pockets in the other for pivotally mounting said butt end section on said shank.

6. In combination, a coupler for railway draft rigging comprising a shank with a slot and a butt end section separable from said shank, said butt end section and shank having complementary curved pressure-transmitting surfaces, said shank having upper and lower flanges respectively overlying the top and bottom surfaces of said shank, and trunnions integral with one of said members and disposed in corresponding receptacles in the other for pivotally mounting said butt end section on said shank, said trunnions being tapered to decreased cross-sections as they extend from the member on which they are formed into the pockets of the other, a key passing through the slot in said shank for connecting the coupler to associated draft rigging, and means to permit relative swiveling of the coupler with respect to said key on draft, held in place by said key, disposed between the rear edge of the latter and said shank, formed with a rear curved surface engaging a complementary curved surface on the shank, and a front notched portion receiving the rear edge portion of said key.

7. A butt member separable from and adapted to cooperate with the shank of an associated coupler and comprising a normally upright force-transmitting portion having a generally flat rear face and a concave forward face adapted to engage a cooperating rear face of the shank, said upright portion being provided with forwardly extending arms carrying means involving portions tapered to a decreased cross-section as they extend away from the inner faces of said arms for pivotally connecting said butt member and shank.

8. In a coupler attachment, the combination of a coupler shank and a yoke having horizontal aligned slots; a connecting key seating in said slots; a draft gear in said yoke, and independent draft and buff equalizing members, one of said members seated within said shank and bearing upon said key, and the other of said members being interposed between said shank and gear, said last named equalizing member having bendable portions separable from, overlying and underlying the rear portion of said shank, and pivotally connected to the latter by trunnions on one received in bearings in the other.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

